How do You PictureMO?

Standing below the Gateway Arch on a warm summer’s evening, just minutes before the first pitch at a St. Louis Cardinals game, is awesome. The Arch grounds are filled with people milling about, having fun and looking up in awe at one of the nation’s most incredible man-made monuments.

The Gateway Arch, an iconic Missouri image.

Last summer, I snapped a photo of the Arch (shown at left), on an evening similar to the one described above, and have used it in various places. It’s currently the background photo on my Twitter account. This is just one of the images that pops into my mind when I “PictureMO.”

So, how do you PictureMO?

You don’t have to tell us, but you can show us (this is the Show-Me State, after all). The Missouri Division of Tourism is hosting an online photo contest called PictureMO. It’s set up as a photo group through Flickr and is designed to showcase Missouri’s iconic attractions and destinations.

The contest is open to both amateur and professional photographers. It takes place quarterly, and winners will be recognized after each contest period. MDT will select a group of finalists each quarter, with the winner selected from that group.

The winning photo will be featured on MDT’s official travel and tourism website, VisitMO.com and on MDT’s official Facebook page, Facebook.com/VisitMO. Photographs from two runners-up also will be shown on VisitMO.com; while photos from three runners-up will appear on MDT’s Facebook page.

Winning photos may be published in the 2014 Official Missouri Travel Guide and on other MDT marketing materials.

If you enjoy photography and love traveling in Missouri, join us on the Flickr PictureMO group and upload your photos for a chance to win. If you need complete contest entry rules, please visit the Photo Group Rules Page. I hope to see how you picture MO soon!